“American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin" [“Probably twilight makes blackness dangerous”]
Literally, the introductory half of the title, “American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin”, is ironic. The actuality of a ‘past assassin’ means that the persona was assassinated in the past and, thus, does not exist. Therefore, addressing the ‘future assassin’ alongside the ‘past assassin’ is ironic because a dead individual cannot be assassinated twice. The irony in the first part of the title enhances the reader’s comprehension of the second half that reads, “Probably twilight makes blackness dangerous.” The second half proffers connotations of racism whereby the black people are viewed as dangerous due to their darkness. To elaborate, Terrance Hayes writes, “Probably twilight makes blackness/Darkness. And a gate. Probably the dark blue skin/Of a black man matches the dark blue skin/Of his son the way one twilight matches another.” These lines employ the Twilight versus Darkness binary whereby the emblematic twilight characterizes the white skinned people whereas the figurative darkness alludes to the black people.
Therefore, a deconstruction of the second part of the title diminishes the irony in the first part of the title. Plausibly, the ‘past assassin’ alludes to the individuals who proliferated racism against the persona’s forefathers whereas the ‘future assassin’ makes reference to the individuals who will endeavor to assassinate (extinguish) the black people for deeming them menaces. The racially-enthused assaults on black people are analogous to an incessant assassination of the black race.
"The Blue Terrance”
“The Blue Terrance” hints at Terrance Hayes’ unhappiness, considering the inclusion of the author’s first name in the title. The despondency ( blue) is attributed to the forfeiture of innocence. Terrance Hayes explicates, “If you subtract the minor losses,/you can return to your childhood too:/the blackboard chalked with crosses.” The ‘minor losses’ signify Terrance’s childhood, heartening innocence. Reverting to childhood may be an impossibility, but it is the solitary unquestionable way to recuperate unblemished happiness that comes with naivety regarding love and other excruciating happenstances.
Terrance Hayes’ blueness is attributed to love because he acknowledges, “Boy, you’re in/trouble. Especially if you love as I love/falling to the earth. Especially if you’re a little bit/high strung and a little bit gutted balloon.” Hayes’ assertions suggest that he distressed himself with love. That is why he speculates that if he were to overturn to the disagreeable, black boy that he was during his childhood, girls would not have been fascinated by him which would emancipate him from the love-related blues. Nevertheless, he cannot invalidate his involvements and age for they are irrevocable.
